“Lazarus, Come Forth”
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Anxiously they waited for a word from Jesus. As long as the spark
of life was yet alive in their brother, they prayed and watched for Jesus
to come. But the messenger returned without Him. Yet he brought the
message, “This sickness is not unto death,” and they clung to the hope
that Lazarus would live. Tenderly they tried to speak words of hope
and encouragement to the almost unconscious sufferer. When Lazarus
died, they were bitterly disappointed; but they felt the sustaining grace
of Christ, and this kept them from reflecting any blame on the Saviour.
When Christ heard the message, the disciples thought He received
it coldly. He did not manifest the sorrow they expected Him to show.
Looking up to them, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for
the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” For
two days He remained in the place where He was. This delay was a
mystery to the disciples. What a comfort His presence would be to the
afflicted household! they thought. His strong affection for the family
at Bethany was well known to the disciples, and they were surprised
that He did not respond to the sad message, “He whom Thou lovest is
sick.”
During the two days Christ seemed to have dismissed the message
from His mind; for He did not speak of Lazarus. The disciples thought
of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus. They had wondered why
Jesus, with the power to perform wonderful miracles, had permitted
John to languish in prison, and to die a violent death. Possessing such
power, why did not Christ save John’s life? This question had often
been asked by the Pharisees, who presented it as an unanswerable
argument against Christ’s claim to be the Son of God. The Saviour
had warned His disciples of trials, losses, and persecution. Would
He forsake them in trial? Some questioned if they had mistaken His
mission. All were deeply troubled.
After waiting for two days, Jesus said to the disciples, “Let us go
into Judea again.” The disciples questioned why, if Jesus were going
to Judea, He had waited two days. But anxiety for Christ and for
themselves was now uppermost in their minds. They could see nothing
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but danger in the course He was about to pursue. “Master,” they said,
“the Jews of late sought to stone Thee; and goest Thou thither again?
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day?” I am under
the guidance of My Father; as long as I do His will, My life is safe.